2005 Legislative/Regulatory Press Releases
Apple Industry Prevails in Extending Concentrate Antidumping Order (Sept. 19)
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted today to maintain the current antidumping order on imports of Chinese non-frozen apple juice concentrate to avoid further injury to the domestic apple industry. In a unanimous vote this afternoon, the ITC Commissioners voted to prevent a return of the predatory pricing practices of the 1990s which harmed the domestic concentrate industry. The decision is the last step in the process to extend the current antidumping order for five years. The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) submitted substantive comments in support of the extension.
Commerce Sees Need for Chinese Concentrate Antidumping Order (September 9)
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that Chinese apple juice concentrate exporters are expected to sell product at unfair prices in the United States if the current apple juice concentrate antidumping order is revoked. The decision, based in part on information submitted by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), is the first step in continuing import duties on non-frozen apple juice concentrate (NFAJC) from China and represents a victory for domestic concentrate producers and U.S. apple growers.
USApple Urges Five-Year Extension of Concentrate Duties (June 24)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is calling on the U.S. Commerce Department and the International Trade Commission to extend for five years the import duties currently in place as part of the antidumping order on non-frozen apple juice concentrate from China. Elimination of the antidumping order, and the associated duties, will encourage more Chinese apple juice concentrate to enter the U.S. market, causing prices to decline and harming the few remaining apple juice concentrate producers still operating in the United States. The loss of domestic concentrate producers would also force juice apple prices lower and put an even greater economic strain on America’s apple growers.
CAFTA-DR is a Home Run for American Agriculture & Apples (April 11)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) is again calling on Congress to approve the Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). This trade agreement covers an important export market for American apples, and its passage would remove the price disadvantage that U.S. apples currently face.
USDA Secretary Promises Action on New EU Plant Health Directive (Feb. 17)
USDA Secretary Mike Johanns questioned the scientific basis of a new European Union regulation which would create new trade barriers for U.S. apples. Johanns told a Congressional subcommittee that he shares their concerns and the Department is actively "engaging with the EU t"o resolve the matter before the April 1 implementation.
USApple Calls for Passage of Trade Agreement (Feb. 1)
The U.S. Apple Association (USApple) joined with more than 50 other agricultural groups in supporting passage of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement with Central America and the Dominican Republic (CAFTA-DR). The agreement would help ensure fair and free market access for U.S. apples and other commodities in Central American markets. The implementation of this trade agreement offers a significant and immediate market growth opportunity for U.S. apple exports. For a copy of the letter to Congress, click here.
Apple Groups Call for Changes in European Trade Policy (Jan. 14)
Additional costs and challenges to maintaining fruit quality are two of the feared results from a new foreign trade barrier the European Union (EU) is placing on U.S. apples, and the industry is asking the U.S. government to help gain the removal of the new requirement. In an effort lead by the U.S. Apple Association (USApple), U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman has been asked to seek the "prompt removal" of this new trade barrier. Click here for a copy of the letter to Secretary Veneman.
